ABSTRACT
Most physicians experience shame during their training as medical students and during their years in practice. It is the nature of shame that the incidents that most stand out in our memories are those that are traumatic or feel shameful. There are many ramification of shame in physicians. For example, one way of avoiding shame is to do it pre-emptively to others, in effect shame or be shamed. At least physicians do not have to expose their vulnerabilities. Patients are fearful, dependent, and sometimes helpless. Frequently patients see their physicians for emotional or stress-related reasons often involving shameful situations, e.g., divorce. The important point to note is that while patients seek objectivity and skill from their physicians, there is always a hidden agenda involving the need to be accepted and supported – a hidden agenda that is not satisfied by objective professionalism.
